{{Short description|Cajun dance party}} {{italic}} [[File:Fais-do-do near Crowley, Louisiana.jpg|thumb|A ''fais do-do'' dance near Crowley, Louisiana in 1938]] A '''''fais do-do''''' is a Cajun dance party; the term originated before World War II.
== History == "Do-do" itself is a hypocoristic shortening of the French verb ''dormir'' (to sleep), used primarily in speaking to small children. The phrase is embodied in an old French lullaby, a song sung to children when putting them down for the night.
Joshua Caffery, however, suggests the true derivation is more plausibly the dance call ''dos à dos'' (back to back), the ''do si do'' call of Anglo-American folk dance; and that sources such as Duhon are merely "repeating the same apocryphal explanation known by almost anyone who lives in Southern Louisiana."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Caffery|first1=Joshua|title=The Folk Etymology of the Fais Do-Do: A Note|url=http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/lfmfaisdodo.html|website=Folklife in Louisiana|accessdate=17 April 2018}}</ref>
Occurrences include the following:{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} * Dance temptation with back to back, or dos à dos from Louisiana French.<ref>[https://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/lfmfaisdodo.html Louisiana folk life] Retrieved 17 November 2021</ref> * In Aaron Neville's 1993 "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DauXcphAJs Louisiana Christmas Day]" * A mention in Brenda Lee's 1958 song "Papa Noel", on the B-side of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" * In the lyrics of [https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=&oq=lyrics+bayou+jubilee&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4AURU_enUS501US501&q=lyrics+bayou+jubilee&gs_l=hp...0i22i30.0.0.0.4956...........0.m64MqWtuFN4 Bayou Jubilee], by [http://www.nittygritty.com/ The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band], on the album, [https://www.amazon.com/Nitty-Gritty-Dirt-Band-Dream/dp/B0000011OQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488565115&sr=8-1&keywords=nitty+gritty+dirt+band+dream Dream]. "Nothing in this world, such a pure delight, as a fais-do-do on a Saturday night." * In the lyrics of "Diggy Liggy Lo" song and lyrics written by Terry J. Clement. * In the 1989 film ''J'ai Été Au Bal/I Went to the Dance'' by Les Blank, Chris Strachwitz, Maureen Gosling. * In the 1944 film ''Dark Waters'' starring Merle Oberon. * In the ''Landry'' series by V.C. Andrews * In the lyrics of "Down at the Twist and Shout" by Mary Chapin Carpenter. * In the title and lyrics of the song "Fais Do" by Redbone on the album: "Already Here" * In the title and lyrics of the song "Fais Dodo" by Raffi on the album: One Light, One Sun (1985). * Name of music venue and film location in Los Angeles (opened 1990). * Song my Marcia Ball, "Christmas Fais do-do." * Mention in the 2004 song, "Down in Thibodaux", by Chris Smither. * Sung by Nondumiso Tembe in True Blood Season 4, Episode 9, "Let's Get Out of Here".
== See also == * Swamp pop * Swamp blues * Zydeco * Cajun music * Cajun * Tejano music
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/f041.html "Fais do"] (1998–2010) * [http://www.mamalisa.com/?lang=French&t=es&p=181 "Mama Lisa’s World :Children's Songs and Nursery Rhymes"], Lisa Yannucci (2010) {{Wiktionary|dodo#French}}
Category:Cajun dance Category:Parties